Christchurch Cathedral - New Zealand

This is one of the few rare postcards I received from New Zealand, showing the famous ChristChurch Cathedral with its spire (conical church tower) reaching to a height of 63m.

On February 22, 2011, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The devastating earthquake was the most severe experienced by the city and as a result the two-century old ChristChurch Cathedral succumbed to the hit. The spire collapsed under the heavy jolt leaving behind a little of the base standing. The collapsing debris also caused damage to the roof the north aisle just next to the spire and the pillars inside the building.

Few months later in June 2011, an aftershock of magnitude 6.4 inflicted damage to the iconic rose window, leading to its partial collapse. As though to complete its unfinished business, an aftershock visited six months later in December 2011, this time demolishing the rose window completely.

The awe-inpsiring cathedral of beautiful Victorian gothic design that took some 40 years to build but suffered its greatest damage within a year. For the small community of Canterbury, the famous cathedral has been the residents' pride, as well as an iconic symbol of the city's identity that helps boost its tourism. However the fate of the church till today is left hanging in the air, with the church authorities opting for complete demolition fearing the impending danger of further collapse from the building's weakened structure, while diverse groups in the local community including structural and siesmic engineers expressing their confidence to restore the church to its former glory fortified with advanced anti-earthquake building technologies.

In the meantime, church goers and visitors have to be housed in a modern transitional cathedral called the 'Cardboard Cathedral' which was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and constructed out of cardboard tubes, timber and steel. The seemingly barebone structure that opened its doors in August 2013 restored the faith of the residents and tourists to certain level. However whether or not there would be a completely new Christchurch cathedral that would preserve its heritage is yet unknown. In this respect, the postcard now becomes the only avenue to admire its former beauty and glory.

Stairways to Heaven

Surrounded by lushness greenery and fresh air, the Banaue Rice Terraces overlooking Batad Village in the northern Philippines is the perfect vacation getaway if you want a break from the buzz and hustle (and pollution) of the city!

The rice terraces are some 2000 years old, carved in a staggered manner into the steep hills following their contours by the indigenous people of Ifugao, using their unique agriculture system sourcing irrigation from the mountain tops. The breathtaking view of the mountains and the terraces may delude you to believe that they are the "Stairways to Heaven"!

The terraces though still in use today, are being threatened by modernisation due to increasing influx of tourists, degradation when farmers switch to commercial crops enlisting the use of pesticides/herbicides or the younger generation migrating to the cities for better opportunities and livelihood.

The journey to Banaue is a 9-hour drive from the capital, Manila. But what is 9 hours compared to a day of euphoria and joy?

Rendevous with "The Dragon's Tongue"

The intense orangey glow at the incredibly steep Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado seems to suggest perhaps there is a fire-breathing dragon residing in its depth? Fear not, no dragon or creature has ever emerged from the crack but geologists have discovered that the phenomenon was due to the reflection of the early morning sun on the canyon's long, narrow crevice, earning the moniker "The Dragon's Tongue". 

It is said the canyon receives only 33 minutes of sunlight per day, thus the hideous name "Black Canyon". The occurance lasts briefly before the angle of sunlight changes as nature proceeds its course.

To visit the park, visitors can go via the South Rim where there is a visitor center. Hiking, fishing, rafting activities can be enjoyed in this park. Rock climbing is only reserved for the professional rock climbers due to the steep vertical drop.

Trier Saint Peter Cathedral

I have a penchant for architecture that possesses repetition of patterns in its structure yet majestic in aesthetic. Thus it was a delight to receive this postcard of the Trier Saint Peter Cathedral from Germany.

It is said that the cathedral, a fusion of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic design elements consists of various hidden rooms and closed doors, especially the 'secret' Holy Robe Chapel that houses the Holy Robe. This massive cathedral may look deceivingly simplistic on the outside, but many gems await the discovery of its visitors. It is by no surprise it holds a record in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage.

How about a Holiday in Avilés, Sir?

You would probably not heard of Avilés if you have not being to Spain or read about it. I only came to know about it when I receive my first postcard that offers a picturesque view of Avilés!

Some 900 km from the capital Barcelona, Avilés was formerly an old fishing and farming town, but has developed to become a modern metropolis bridging the past and the future. One of the major cities of Asturias province, you would be amazed by the beauty of the civil and religious architectures emanating with rich history and culture, such as the Church of Sabugo and Ferrera Palace. Many of the buildings are influenced by Pre-Romanesque art renowned for its aesthetic beauty and innovative design. 

What links Avilés to the future and open up a gateway to the world is the famous International Oscar Niemeyer Center, which you can see at the bottom left of the postcard. It has two dome shaped structures, of which the left looks as though like a dissected boiled egg showing the yellow yolk. That is in fact auditorium that could house some 1000 seats for conferences, concerts and theater plays. The dome on the right is the exhibition hall.

This amazingly futuristic architecture, opened to public on May 26, 2011, was a gift from the Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012), who dedicated one of his life's greatest works for the sake of humankind on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of Prince of Asturias Awards. Between the two domes is a huge open space, where Mr Niemeyer called it an 'open space for humankind', supposedly designed for an open, no-barrier exchange of people of different races and cultural identities. He described in his own words - "An open space for humankind, a place for education, culture and peace." Sadly, the esteemed architecture passed away a year later on December 5, 2012.

I wonder how nice it would be to sit by the Avilés coast watching the seafaring vessels docking in and out, while proceeding to the Niemeyer Center for a delightful concert. That would be a dream vacation!